Dominic Toretto (Diesel) in his natural environment.

Vin Diesel and the gang are back in Fast & Furious 6 and they’re speeding into theatres as the most ridiculous movie of the summer.

The story begins pretty much right where Fast Five left off, with the entirety of the group rich, wanted and scattered in exotic locations around the world.

Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker) is now raising a child with Mia Toretto (Jordana Brewster), sister to series lead Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel), who adds a touch of drama to the series before settling on the sidelines for the bulk of the film.

Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) talks Dom and the rest of the group into taking out a terrorist organization in exchange for having their names cleared — an offer that comes with an opportunity for the gang to reunite with Letty Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez), the former love interest to Dom who was thought to have died in the series fourth installment.

It’s a predictable plot from a series known more for fast cars and slam-bang action than riveting stories, but there are some solid twists featured that help to propel this flick above past entries in the franchise.

The film delivers on all the necessary clichés that a great action movie should have: relentless over-the-top stunts, pectoral muscles, awkward sexual tension and mediocre acting. What more could you ask for?

The Fast & Furious franchise has always been a guilty pleasure for some, but Fast Five and this latest addition have matured the series from serviceable popcorn flicks into riveting summertime spectacles.

Director Justin Lin, who has handled the franchise since Tokyo Drift,  somehow finds a way to elevate the action scenes well beyond the ludicrous hauling of a giant vault through the crowded streets of Brazil seen in Fast Five. How did they top that? With a tank in the middle of a highway and a giant airplane chase sequence.

Fast & Furious 6 is easily the best in this surprisingly long-running series, and by the looks of it things are only going to get more interesting as they move forward. The characters, although mostly played by average actors, still end up being lovable in their own distinct way — likely due to a certain sense of audience attachment based on how long they have been around.

Paul Walker cements himself as the best kind of awful actor. He has the uncanny ability to play a character who, although supposedly cracking jokes among close friends, can’t seem to shake his deadpan glare and monotone voice — creating a bizarre insecurity in a role clearly intended as a confident badass.

Johnson brings a healthy dose of charisma and continues to add a lot of energy to the series. Having already injected a much-needed spark to the franchise with his introduction in Fast Five, Johnson’s clear enthusiasm for the role continues here and helps to fuel frenetic pace.

Fast & Furious 6 delivers on every high-action note that audiences could ask for. With a film this explosively fun, Lin has perfected the art of excess for his final installment in the series.

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Photo: Supplied